Sheet piling with aversive additive

ABSTRACT

A sheet piling member comprising including a base construction material forming a rigid shape and an aversive agent incorporated with respect to the base construction material. The aversive agent deters contact with the base construction material by living rodents.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 61/506,692, filed Jul. 12, 2011, which is hereby incorporated herein by reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates generally to the field of sheet piling members, such as used in levee repair and reinforcement, flood wall, barrier wall, seawall and other applications.

BACKGROUND

Sheet piling may be used in various applications, including without limitation, levee repair and reinforcement, barrier wall and seawall construction, and other applications. Sheet piles can be formed of various materials, including without limitation, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), high-density polyethylene (HDPE), or other materials. U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,575,667 and 7,025,539 are incorporated by reference herein.

It has been discovered that rodents burrowing in earthen levees may allow water to flow through the levee and potentially lead to levee failure. Accordingly, it can be seen that needs exist for improved methods and systems for stabilizing levees and for resisting damage to levees from burrowing rodents. It is to the provision of improved methods and systems meeting these and other needs that the present invention is primarily directed.

SUMMARY

In example embodiments, the present invention provides methods and apparatus for preventing animal damage to sheet piling structures. In one aspect, the present invention relates to a sheet piling member that includes a base construction material forming a rigid shape and an aversive agent incorporated with respect to the base construction material. The aversive agent deters contact with the base construction material by living rodents.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of preventing rodents or other animals from damaging a sheet piling structure. The method includes incorporating an aversive material with respect to a base construction material of a sheet piling member; and installing the sheet piling member into a structure.

In still another aspect, the invention relates to a sheet piling member including a base construction material forming a rigid shape and a tactile element incorporated with respect to the base construction material. The tactile element deters contact with the base construction material by living rodents.

In still another aspect, the invention relates to a levee comprising an earthen structure and at least one sheet piling member extending into the earthen structure. The at least one sheet piling member at least partially comprises an aversive material that resists burrowing rodents.

In another aspect, the invention relates to a method of stabilizing a levee. The method includes installing at least one sheet piling member into a levee structure. The at least one sheet piling member at least partially comprises an aversive material that resists burrowing rodents.

These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be understood with reference to the drawing figures and detailed description herein, and will be realized by means of the various elements and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims. It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following brief description of the drawings and detailed description of the invention are exemplary and explanatory of preferred embodiments of the invention, and are not restrictive of the invention, as claimed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The drawing figure is a perspective view of a section of sheet piling with aversive additive according to an example embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

The present invention may be understood more readily by reference to the following detailed description of the invention taken in connection with the accompanying drawing figures, which form a part of this disclosure. It is to be understood that this invention is not limited to the specific devices, methods, conditions or parameters described and/or shown herein, and that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments by way of example only and is not intended to be limiting of the claimed invention. Any and all patents and other publications identified in this specification are incorporated by reference as though fully set forth herein.

Also, as used in the specification including the appended claims, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include the plural, and reference to a particular numerical value includes at least that particular value, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Ranges may be expressed herein as from “about” or “approximately” one particular value and/or to “about” or “approximately” another particular value. When such a range is expressed, another embodiment includes from the one particular value and/or to the other particular value. Similarly, when values are expressed as approximations, by use of the antecedent “about,” it will be understood that the particular value forms another embodiment.

With reference now to the drawing figure, wherein like reference numbers represent corresponding parts throughout the several views a perspective view of a section of sheet piling 10 with aversive additive is shown according to an example embodiment of the present invention. The sheet piling comprises an elongate member 20 having first and second sides 30, 32 defining a width therebetween, and first and second ends 40, 42 defining a length therebetween. In example forms, the first side 30 includes a male coupling element 50, and the second side 32 includes a female coupling element 52.

A plurality of two or more sheet piling members 10 may optionally be assembled into a sheet piling array or structure, whereby the male and female coupling elements 50, 52 of adjacent sheet piling members are cooperatively interengaged with one another to provide structural integrity and resist fluid flow or material transfer across the sheet piling structure. In example embodiments, the sheet piling members 10 are installed below grade, for example by sequentially driving sheet piling members into the ground, with the second ends 42 thereof positioned at a specified depth below grade.

In the depicted embodiment, the sheet piling member 10 comprises a corrugated profile, having a medial panel 60 between first and second transverse panels 62, 64, a first side flange 66 between the first transverse panel 62 and the first side 30, and a second side flange 68 between the second transverse panel 64 and the second side 32. The first and second side flanges 66, 68 are generally coplanar, and lie in a plane parallel to the plane of the medial panel 60, whereby a sheet piling member thickness is defined between the parallel planes. The sheet piling member 10 is preferably an integrally formed unitary member of substantially rigid material such as, for example, PVC, HDPE, steel, fiberglass or other polymeric or metal materials of construction.

In alternate embodiments, the sheet piling 10 can comprise an elongate member having other corrugated (for example C-shaped, S-shaped, U-shaped, W-shaped cross-sectional profiles), a flat profile, or otherwise configured shapes. The sheet piling may or may not include interengaging male and female connector elements at opposed sides thereof, and the connectors may optionally comprise profiles other than as depicted.

The sheet piling of the present invention incorporates an aversive agent into or onto the plastic or other material of construction used to form the sheet piling members. In example forms, the aversive agent is a chemical, botanical or other material that repels burrowing rodents or other animals. Optionally, the aversive agent does not harm the animal, but is very bitter and spicy, so the taste and smell senses are profoundly influenced in a negative way, causing the rodents stop gnawing and learn to stay away. The aversive agent can be blended into the base construction material of the sheet piling, can be co-molded or co-extruded as an outer cladding or coating over the base construction material, and/or can be applied as by painting or other surface treatment methods, then allowed to dry and harden.

In further embodiments, the material of the sheet piling optionally incorporates fibers, for example chopped glass strands, nylon fibers and/or other fibrous, pointed, abrasive or otherwise tactile aversive materials, to add a tactile element that is disfavored by burrowing rodents or other animals, for example causing skin or eye irritation, itching, or other sensory disincentive. Optionally, the fibers are applied to or concentrated in, the exterior portions of the material forming the sheet piling, and/or may be selectively oriented to enhance tactile action against animals coming in contact therewith. Sand, glass beads, crushed glass particles, or other materials may be incorporated in or on the material of the sheet piling, for example embedded within the sheet piling or applied onto the sheet piling as a coating. Additionally or alternatively, a metal or glass fiber mesh, belting, cording and/or strands may be incorporated into or onto the sheet piling. In further embodiments, the material of the sheet piling optionally also incorporates one or more colorant(s), phosphorescent agent(s), and/or reflective agent(s) that is/are disfavored by or repellant to burrowing rodents or other animals. Also, a distinct color, such as for example a bright green colorant, may be used to distinguish an aversive-containing sheet piling from a standard sheet piling not incorporating an aversive.

The aversive agent(s) may be introduced into the material of construction in various manners, such as for example by automated mixing of pelletized materials into the additive feeder or other material feed stream of a plastics blender system, and feeding into a melt extruder. The aversive agent(s) may optionally be incorporated into a carrier, binder, filler or other material(s), such as for example ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA). Example addition rates of aversive agents that may be adapted for use with the invention include Rodrepel™ by C Tech Corporation at an addition rate of about 2.5% to 5% (denatonium benzoate (bitter)); and/or RepelaTM by Aversion Technologies, Inc. at an addition rate of about 2%-3% (denatonium benzoate (bitter) and capsaicin (spicy/odor)). In alternate embodiments, the aversive content comprises about 0.5% to about 10%, or about 1% to about 7.5% of the material composition forming the sheet piling. Optionally, the aversive may be concentrated at external portions of the sheet piling.

While the invention has been described with reference to preferred and example embodiments, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications, additions and deletions are within the scope of the invention, as defined by the following claims. 

1. An animal-aversive sheet piling comprising: an elongate member formed of a substantially rigid base construction material, the elongate member comprising first and second sides defining a width therebetween, and first and second ends defining a length therebetween; and wherein the elongate member further comprises an animal-aversive agent effective to deter damage to the sheet piling by living animals.
 2. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent is blended into the base construction material.
 3. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent is applied onto the base construction material.
 4. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent comprises at least one of the group comprising denatonium benzoate and capsaicin.
 5. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent is concentrated at predetermined locations with respect to the base construction material.
 6. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the animal-aversive agent is incorporated evenly with respect to the base construction material.
 7. The sheet piling of claim 1, further comprising a tactile element.
 8. The sheet piling of claim 7, wherein the tactile element comprises glass.
 9. The sheet piling of claim 1, further comprising a distinctive colorant that deters living animals.
 10. The sheet piling of claim 1, wherein the base construction material comprises a polymer.
 11. The sheet piling member of claim 10, wherein the polymer comprises at least one of the group comprising polyvinyl chloride (PVC) and high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
 12. A method of preventing rodents or other animals from damaging a sheet piling structure, the method comprising: incorporating an aversive material with respect to a base construction material of a sheet piling member; and installing the sheet piling member into a structure.
 13. The method of claim 12, wherein incorporating the aversive material comprises blending the aversive material with the base construction material, and extruding the blend to form an elongate sheet piling element.
 14. The method of claim 12, wherein incorporating the aversive material comprises applying the aversive material onto the base construction material, and dried and hardened.
 15. The method of claim 12, further comprising incorporating a tactile element with respect to the base construction material.
 16. The method of claim 12, wherein the structure comprises a levee.
 17. A sheet piling member comprising: a base construction material forming a rigid shape; and a tactile element incorporated with respect to the base construction material, effective to deter contact with the base construction material by living rodents.
 18. The sheet piling member of claim 17, further comprising an aversive agent incorporated with respect to the base construction material.
 19. The sheet piling member of claim 18, wherein the aversive agent is blended into the base construction material.
 20. The sheet piling member of claim 18, wherein the aversive agent is applied onto the base construction material. 